Visible light induced photosensitized degradation of Acid Orange 7 in the suspension of bentonite intercalated with perfluoroalkyl perfluoro phthalocyanine zinc complex

Abstract

We report the intercalation of a perfluoroalkyl perfluoro phthalocyanine zinc complex (F64PcZn) in bentonite (Ben) to generate a hybrid photosensitizer (F64PcZn∈Ben) and demonstrate its ability to degrade a model azo dye, Acid Orange 7 (AO7), in aqueous solution using visible light. The F64PcZn photosensitizer is active both in the presence and in the absence of O2, via the photogeneration of singlet oxygen or via a photoinduced electron transfer from the azo dye, respectively. Both F64PcZn and F64PcZn∈Ben exhibit high photochemical stability. The heterogeneous system can be used cyclically by the removal and reutilization of the photocatalytic hybrid, thus highlighting possible technological applications.